After over 2 years and 200 parkrun freedon runs, today I thought it was time for a change.
Today I decided to run NAKED!
Ok, not naked in the traditional sense, it was a bit too cold for that and no one would want to see that - certainly not at lunchtime! No, this naked was in the "lack of electronic aids" sense. Yes, today I decided to run without electronic aids.
To be totally honest though, even that isn't true. I only ever run with a watch, never an mp3 player, heart-rate monitor or GPS device etc. Today was no different really, I still wore my watch. But the big change today was that I decided not to look at my watch at all during my parkrun freedom runs. I had already planned to do two freedom parkruns back-to-back and a decided that I wouldn't even glance at my watch until completing each freedom run. I decided that there wasn't much point in running completely without my watch as how would I know how it compared. For a fair test, I had to time it, but just not look at the time during the run.
This was a big step for me as I can't remember often running for more than a few minutes at a time without looking at my watch. Certainly in races and also in any training around the parkrun route as I like to know what pace I am running at. Even on an easy run. I suppose there were the club handicap races this summer for which watches were forbidden, so I have done it, but rarely, and never in training in the park.
The first freedom parkrun....I just ran at a really comfortable pace, hardly breathing and totally relaxed. The aim was to take the first freedom parkrun slowly and then up the pace a bit for the second one. I guessed that I was running at just under 24 minute parkrun pace as it felt really easy. When I crossed the line, pressed the split button and looked at my watch I was really amazed to see that the time was 21:27. It hadn't felt anywhere near that quick.
So that was it, no more glances at the watch allowed until completing the second freedom parkrun.
The second freedom parkrun....I picked up the pace a bit. It still felt pretty comfortable, to start with at least, but not as easy as the first parkrun. Based on the pace and time of the first freedom parkrun, the second felt much closer to 20 minute pace. I really enjoyed not having the time pressure that a target pace and being close to, or behind, that target pace creates. I crossed the finish line, stopped the watch and this time I was much closer with my estimate as it was a 20:08 freedom parkrun.
That second freedom parkrun certainly wasn't easy, but I knew I had plenty left in the tank. I wouldn't have said I was pushing it. So with that in mind it's a pretty pleasing time.
Not bad for a 10km, taking it easy for the first half and still managing 41:35. A respectable time really.
So what has my naked freedom parkrun told me?
I think I should probably try it more often. I'd say that it seemed that the pace which felt comfortable was faster without checking my watch than when I know my pace. That's time pressure for you. The thing with the parkrun course is that I know where the half and 1 kilometre splits are. So it is really easy to work out my pace. When I am running and it is feeling hard, it is so easy to be disappointed with the pace or time. But by running at a speed that felt comfortable, it turns out that this can be quite quick without any time pressures. Interesting!
I will have to try this again. I can't see it working for me in a race as I feel that I need the time pressure to stop me falling off my highest pace. That quick feedback allows me to pick up my pace very quickly after noticing it has dropped. This is particularly the case at parkrun. But I suppose I'll never really know if that's true though, until I try it. Maybe one day.
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
Monday, 3 December 2012
parkrun stats of the week - 1st December 2012
The parkrun statistics of note for this week are:
174 parkrun events run (a few cancellations this week!)
18,324 runners (down 3,558 on last week)
The average number of runners per parkrun event run was: 105 (down 13 on last week - Winter must be here!).
Just 4 events recorded a new record attendance this week, as follows:
Also of note were two parkrun events getting within 1 person of their attendance record:
The longest standing parkrun attandance record is:
Amager Faelled 146 28/08/2010
And in the UK its:
Old Deer Park 83 15/01/2011
The highest attandance this week was 741 at Bushy Park. No surprise there. Bushy parkrun still holds the global attendance record for a single event of 1000.
The lowest attandance this week was 6 at Fritton Lake parkrun.
4 new male course records set this week:
10 new female course records set this week (the women win this week!):
A total of 50 runners (down 12on last week) ran times under 17 minutes this week.
6 of these (down 2 on last week) run under 16 minutes!
Impressively, 4 of those were at Cardiff parkrun, that must have been some sight!):
The fastest parkrunner in the World this week was by Owen Walpole running 15:36 at Cardiff parkrun.
The top age grade performance this week was by Peter Sandery who ran 19:50 in the VM70-74 category at Torrens parkrun, recording a 90.00% Age Grade in the process. Very impressive!
The fastest freedom run recorded the week was:
19:55 by Jake Allen at Brighton & Hove parkrun on 1st December 2012.
174 parkrun events run (a few cancellations this week!)
18,324 runners (down 3,558 on last week)
The average number of runners per parkrun event run was: 105 (down 13 on last week - Winter must be here!).
Just 4 events recorded a new record attendance this week, as follows:
| Record Attendance | ||
| Ally Pally | 59 | ||
| Cornwall Park | 66 | ||
| Gdansk | 78 | ||
| Torrens | 44 |
Also of note were two parkrun events getting within 1 person of their attendance record:
| Record Attendance | Record Week | This Week | ||
| Northampton | 172 | 22/09/2012 | 171 | ||
| Launceston | 92 | 10/11/2012 | 91 |
The longest standing parkrun attandance record is:
Amager Faelled 146 28/08/2010
And in the UK its:
Old Deer Park 83 15/01/2011
The highest attandance this week was 741 at Bushy Park. No surprise there. Bushy parkrun still holds the global attendance record for a single event of 1000.
The lowest attandance this week was 6 at Fritton Lake parkrun.
4 new male course records set this week:
| Athlete | Time | |
| North Beach | Reece ALLARD | 17:30 |
| Sandgate | David LEAN | 16:59 |
| South Bank | Geoff BERKELEY | 17:06 |
| Torrens | Daniel HARTWIG | 17:15 |
10 new female course records set this week (the women win this week!):
| Event | Athlete | Time |
A total of 50 runners (down 12on last week) ran times under 17 minutes this week.
6 of these (down 2 on last week) run under 16 minutes!
Impressively, 4 of those were at Cardiff parkrun, that must have been some sight!):
| Event | Athlete | Time | |
| Cardiff | Owen WALPOLE | 15:36 | |
| Cardiff | Rhodri BUFFETT | 15:40 | |
| Cardiff | Joshua GRIFFITHS | 15:43 | |
| Cardiff | Edward R TAKATA | 15:47 |
The fastest parkrunner in the World this week was by Owen Walpole running 15:36 at Cardiff parkrun.
The top age grade performance this week was by Peter Sandery who ran 19:50 in the VM70-74 category at Torrens parkrun, recording a 90.00% Age Grade in the process. Very impressive!
The fastest freedom run recorded the week was:
19:55 by Jake Allen at Brighton & Hove parkrun on 1st December 2012.
Sunday, 2 December 2012
Who runs at parkrun?
The simple answer is anyone and everyone that wants to.
Head along to any parkrun and you will find people of all ages, sizes, backgrounds and abilities.
There are kids, teenagers, young adults, middle-aged, pensioners and even the elderly.
There are large people, thin people and every shape and size you can think of.
There are fast runners, slow runners and every grade of ability in between.
There are regular runners, even clubs runners, but the vast majority probably only run at parkrun.
Some of the runners aren't even runners, as walking is just as acceptable at parkrun.
There are even some who look like proper athletes!
As I said, parkrun is for everyone. Anyone is welcome at parkrun.
Head along to any parkrun and you will find people of all ages, sizes, backgrounds and abilities.
There are kids, teenagers, young adults, middle-aged, pensioners and even the elderly.
There are large people, thin people and every shape and size you can think of.
There are fast runners, slow runners and every grade of ability in between.
There are regular runners, even clubs runners, but the vast majority probably only run at parkrun.
Some of the runners aren't even runners, as walking is just as acceptable at parkrun.
There are even some who look like proper athletes!
As I said, parkrun is for everyone. Anyone is welcome at parkrun.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)